ESCONDIDO MAYOR TOPS IN ELECTION FUNDRAISING

ESCONDIDO 
Mayor Sam Abed leads Councilwoman Olga Diaz in early fundraising for the 2014 Escondido mayor’s race, which many expect to be the most expensive election in city history.

Campaign contribution forms submitted Wednesday show that Abed had raised $30,455 through June 30, and that Diaz had raised $22,793 by that time.

The race will pit two longtime political rivals against each other.

Abed, 61, is a staunch conservative focused on shrinking city government and spurring economic development. Diaz, 37, is the council’s only liberal voice and one of only two Latinos ever elected in a city where nearly half the population is Latino.

Abed said Thursday his goal for the race was raising $200,000, which would nearly double the record $115,000 he raised during his first successful run for mayor in 2010.

“We just started a few months ago but we’re well on our way to $200,000,” Abed said, explaining that he needs a large war chest because he expects Diaz to be backed strongly by labor unions.

Diaz said Thursday her goal is $80,000 to $100,000.

“The amount I have in mind will allow me to get my message and ideas out,” she said.

Building a large election war chest became easier in Escondido this spring when the city increased the donor contribution limits from $540 to $4,100. The change makes Escondido’s limits the highest of any city in the county that restricts contributions. Seven cities in the county have no such limits.

Only two of Abed’s donors exceeded the previous $540 limit, while three of Diaz’s contributions were higher.

In the 2014 City Council race, none of the five declared candidates reported significant donations. The candidates are Cassie Lieurance, Nicole Downey, Rick Paul and incumbents Ed Gallo and John Masson.